Regatta Guava
Lake Stevens Brewing Company

Poured into a weizen glass. Pours a hazy, medium golden amber with a one finger white head with good retention and slippery lacing. Aroma of wheat malt and guava juice with a light graininess. Flavor is wheat malt, guava juice, mild clove and a mild bitterness in the finish. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. My last brewery run produced an unusual number of hefeweizens; this is the second one I opened. The look is nice and hazy, with a little more orange than usual, probably due to the guava. There is a good wheat flavor underneath, but it's subsumed into the guava, although the latter is at a pleasant flavor depth, it is the dominate flavor over the usual subdued character of wheat malt. A hint of clove and light bitterness are appropriate. This one also reminded me more of an American wheat ale than a hefe, but probably because of the fruit character. A refreshing and tropical wheat ale that hit the spot on this first 90 degree day of the year.

Poured from a 16 ounce undated can into a tulip glass.

Look- Deep gold, very hazy, white frothy head, average head retention and lacing.

Smell- Earthy, slight clove, slight bubblegum, slight guava, between weak and medium strength of scent.

Taste- Clove, moderately sweet, bubblegum, slight guava, medium strength of flavor.

Feel- Between medium and full body, moderately sweet, highly creamy, average carbonation, low bitterness.

Overall- Deep gold and translucent with average head retention and lacing. Both the nose and the flavor were earthy with a dominate clove character and the promised guava seemed very underripe. Feel had a nice substantial body with moderate sweetness and plenty of creaminess. Overall this beer provided a below average drinking experience with too much earthy character for my palate.